Cloud Backup: pros and cons
The emergence of cloud solutions has made computer data storage a major challenge for all players in the sector. Cloud backup has become an invaluable tool for companies and individuals seeking to protect their data from accidental loss, cyber-attacks or hardware failure, but to access it more quickly, at any time and in any location. This guide will help you understand why cloud backup is essential, how to choose the best solution for your needs, and the best practices to adopt for maximum protection of your information.
○ Why choose Cloud backup?
Online backup provides efficient protection for company data. With the growth of AI and IoT, cyber threats such as phishing or denial-of-service attacks, it's becoming critical to opt for a reliable and safe solution that the cloud now offers. And we point to the growing importance of regulatory compliance and the requirement for transparency in organizations such as the RGPD.
However, cloud solutions present technical challenges related to data localization, vendor dependency and latency in mission-critical environments.
From a compliance point of view, strict enforcement of the RGPD imposes constraints on the transfer of data across borders, thus requiring full traceability and enhanced guarantees.
Online backup enables files to be copied and stored on remote servers, via the cloud. This operation is performed using software. Before adopting a solution, several elements need to be analyzed:
• Storage capacity and costs:
Cloud storage offers vary according to the type and volume of data to be stored. In the cloud, invoicing is frequently based on the stored volume. Before embarking on any cloud project, you need to assess your growth needs.
• Security and compliance:
The value of cloud storage lies mainly in its security, with robust encryption protocols and compliance with applicable regulations.
AES-256 encryption, two-factor authentication and RGPD compliance, etc ...
○ Data loss risks
Requirements for cloud backup solutions vary from one industry to another. However, there are some overlapping key features that contribute to a reliable cloud backup solution for all.
With the increasing digitization of business and personal activities, data loss can have dramatic consequences. A simple incident, such as the accidental removal of a file or hard disk failure, can result in critical information loss. Cloud backup offers a reliable solution to mitigate these risks, making it easy to recover your data from any Internet-connected device.
○ Cloud backup benefits
Going for cloud backup offers a range of advantages:
● Data security : Your data is stored on remote servers, protected by advanced security measures such as encryption and Multi-Factor Authentication. This also ensures that your backup solution is SOC-2 compliant. SOC-2 compliance reports and audits, for example, ensure data confidentiality by verifying encryption and how data is classified. Cloud backup ensures that your data stays protected even during transit or if hackers breach your storage.
● Accessibility : Most cloud providers replicate data in different data centers to ensure higher availability. You can access your saved files at any time, from anywhere, with just an Internet connection.
● Scalability: cloud solutions are scalable, so you can adjust storage space as needs grow without investing in expensive hardware.
○ The various types of cloud backup
The Cloud offers several benefits over traditional on-site data storage and processing solutions. In the cloud, it is important to choose the backup type according to regulations and your business type. Different types of cloud backup and several pros and cons are to be considered when you select your cloud platform.
○ Full backup vs. incremental backup
Full backup involves copying your entire data at regular intervals. It ensures maximum protection, but can be space- and bandwidth-hungry, which can prove costly. Incremental backup, on the other hand, only backs up data that is new or modified since the last backup, thus optimizing the use of resources.
■ Hybrid cloud backup
Hybrid cloud backup combines local backups with those on the cloud. This allows you to benefit from both the speed of local backup and the enhanced security offered by the cloud.
■ Continuous backup vs. scheduled backup
Full backup involves copying your entire data at regular intervals. It ensures maximum protection, but can be space- and bandwidth-hungry, which can prove costly. Incremental backup, on the other hand, only backs up data that is new or modified since the last backup, thus optimizing the use of resources.
○ Criteria for selecting a cloud backup solution
Five key criteria to consider when choosing a cloud backup solution.
■ Data security and encryption
Security is a major concern when opting for a cloud backup solution. Make sure the solution offers data encryption, both during transmission and when stored on the servers. This ensures that your data cannot be accessed in case of intrusion. Even better, some solutions are certified by French standards (CSPN: Critère de Sécurité de Premier Niveau) or by international standards, such as ISO 27018, relating to the protection of personal data in the cloud. CSPN enables “black-box” tests to be carried out quickly, and provides proof of a first level of robustness.
■ Solution cost
Costs vary from one solution to another: basic versions, pay-as-you-go versions, more or less advanced features and, above all, storage capacity - and by extension, changes in the amount of stored data - can lead to significant variations in the pricing of solutions. But it is important to choose an option that both fits your budget and offers good value for money. Certain solutions offer adjustable rates based on the storage space used, while others charge a fixed amount.
■ Data recovery ease
Other questions worth asking: to which extent will my data be accessible? For how long? In what format?
The ability to quickly restore your data is critical. Make sure that the chosen solution enables quick and smooth recovery, particularly in the case of disaster or cyber-attacks.
■ Compatibility with operating systems
Check that the cloud backup solution you opt for is compatible with your operating systems and software. Some solutions are better suited to Windows, macOS or Linux environments, while others offer cross-platform compatibility.
■ Mobility
Digital technology has also brought its share of new terminals, with connected devices (tablets, smartphones, IoT tools, etc.) in the spotlight. Their use continues to grow, and data demand is becoming ever more challenging in terms of speed, accessibility and storage - known as the ATAWAD (Any Time, Any Where, Any Device) phenomenon. So you have to make sure that the cloud storage you use is mobile-ready.
○ Best practices for efficient cloud backup
■ Planning regular backups
Understand your business and set up a backup policy that corresponds to your activity. Effective backup management often involves automation. By scheduling frequent backups, companies can avoid any risk of data loss and ensure that all critical information is backed up without the need for human intervention.
■ Test restores periodically
Backing up data is important, but ensuring that restoration works properly is even more important. Regularly test your solution's capability to recover your files flawlessly.
■ Make multiple backup copies on various platforms
For extra security, consider storing backup copies on multiple platforms (public cloud, private cloud, external hard drives, etc.). This cuts risks in the event of failure of any single solution. However, it is worth noting that cloud backup is reputed to be highly available, reliable and secure.
○ The future of cloud backup
A proper backup is one that allows you to restore when needed. Simple and nice definition, but the expectations of cloud backup now go much further. To the very edge of IT systems.
■ Cloud backup and artificial intelligence
With the rise of AI, cloud backup solutions are becoming increasingly intelligent. They can analyze files to detect vulnerabilities, predict failures, and proactively automate backup management.
■ New technologies' impact on data security
Technological advances such as quantum computing promise to improve the security of cloud backups by making encryption protocols even more robust. However, they also raise new challenges that suppliers need to anticipate.
■ Moving to fully automated backups
The future of cloud computing is moving to full backup automation, where companies will no longer have to manage backup processes manually. Emerging technologies enable backup solutions to auto-detect critical files and ensure their ongoing protection.
Backup must “consolidate data flows from backup in the data center, but also consolidate data in the cloud and extend to its environments”.
The future of backup, then, lies in the backup and restoration of SQL and NoSQL data, data in the cloud, as well as workloads including development environments and virtual environments (virtual machines, containers, Kubernetes). Everything deployed in the cloud and multi-cloud needs to be backed up, and with enhanced security.
Selecting the best cloud backup solution is essential to ensure that your data is protected and accessible whenever you need it. By considering the security, cost and ease-of-use criteria, you can find the most suitable solution to your needs. Adopting the right backup practices will help you reduce the risk of data loss and ensure business continuity.